Sadly, my bold predictions nose-dived off a cliff at the end of the year. My season ledger sits at a pitiful 11-32 (0.256). Even if I sweep my final three bold predictions this week, my batting average will fall short of my goal of 0.333. Still, I can follow suit for the NFL teams eliminated from playoff contention and battle my butt off as a spoiler. If I sweep this week’s picks, my batting average will sit north of 0.300. So, I’m motivated and ready to close this year’s bold predictions on a high note.

• Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Advice
• Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
• Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
• Fantasy Football Trade Tools

Fantasy Football Week 17 Bold Predictions

Bryce Young Will Be a Top-12 Quarterback in Week 17

Bryce Young has begun to find his NFL legs and recapture the form that made him a well-regarded prospect at Alabama. Despite his recent production and favorable matchup, he’s only the QB22 in the expert consensus rankings (ECR) in Week 17.

Since Week 12, following Carolina’s Week 11 bye, Young was the QB11 in fantasy points per game (19.0), with a QB8 finish against the Buccaneers in Week 13, and a QB2 finish against the Cardinals last week. According to the data suite at Fantasy Points, during that five-game period, Young had 225.8 passing yards per game, six passing touchdowns, three interceptions, 29.2 rushing yards per game and three rushing touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game (20.8) to quarterbacks this season. Since Week 12, the Bucs have allowed 237.2 passing yards per game, four passing touchdowns and only two interceptions. They’re not as soft against the pass as earlier this year, but Tampa Bay isn’t a lockdown pass defense, either. Young’s newfound rushing prowess and an unimposing matchup through the air should allow him to push for a top-12 quarterback finish in Week 17, and I expect him to crack through and finish within that group.

Two of Green Bay’s Wide Receivers Will Reach at Least 60 Receiving Yards With a Touchdown

According to RotoViz’s pace app, the Vikings have faced the eighth-highest situation-neutral pass rate (59%) this season. They’ve been challenging to run the ball against and much easier to beat through the air. Since Week 13, the Vikings have permitted the fourth-most passing yards per game (278.5) and five passing touchdowns per game.

The Packers have preferred to lean on Josh Jacobs and their rushing attack, but if Minnesota’s high-powered offense forces the Packers to keep up with them, Jordan Love can handle it.

When the Vikings defeated the Packers 31-29 in Week 4, it was Love’s first game back from his knee injury in Week 1. He wasn’t flawless, but he passed for 389 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.

Jayden Reed had seven receptions for 139 yards and a touchdown in that contest. Dontayvion Wicks had 13 targets, five receptions, 78 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Romeo Doubs had eight targets but converted them into just four receptions for 39 scoreless yards. Nevertheless, the target volume was encouraging.

The Vikings have coughed up the most half PPR points per game (33.7) to wide receivers this year. Per Pro Football Reference, Minnesota has also yielded the most standard points per game (26.3) to wide receivers this season. Green Bay’s wide receivers have a mouthwatering matchup. They can feast if Love is forced to chuck it.

Bucky Irving Will Exceed 20 Half Point Per Reception (half PPR) and PPR Points in Week 17

The Panthers have an unserious run defense. Carolina can’t stop running backs. They’ve coughed up 141.1 rushing yards per game, 4.27 receptions per game, 33.3 receiving yards per game, and 1.27 touchdowns per game to running backs this season’s . Since Week 13, Carolina’s comically bad run defense has allowed an NFL-high 215.5 rushing yards per game (22.0 more per game than the second-worst run defense), 6.20 yards per carry, a 7.9% explosive run percentage and four rushing touchdowns.

Bucky Irving destroyed the Panthers in Week 13. The rookie running back had 185 scrimmage yards, three receptions and a touchdown. He had over 20 fantasy points in half PPR and PPR points that week. Nonetheless, Jahmyr Gibbs is the only running back with a projection over 20 half PPR points (20.2) and over 20 PPR points (22.1) this week, making this a bold prediction for Irving’s scoring output in Week 17’s rematch against the Panthers.

Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.